10 Must-Try Melbourne Dishes – experience the many flavours of Melbourne

The ricotta hotcakes at Top Paddock are an Instagrammers dream! Not only do these warm, fluffy hotcakes taste amazing, they look amazing too. The brunch spot is popular among locals for its hotcakes served with berries, organic maple syrup, colourful seasonal fruits, crunchy seeds, edible flowers and a dollop of fresh cream.

An American favourite, done right by Aussies. The signature 8bit burger is so popular here those customers have to wait in a queue to get their hands on the delicious burger. The burger is layered with all the usual toppings on a thick patty along with crunchy pickles, red onions, grilled American cheese and a good helping of 8bit sauce. Tip: wash this monster down the creamy peanut butter milkshake.

While this Chinese restaurant might be more famous for its dumplings, their list of desserts is another reason that keeps customers coming back to Din Tai Fung. Their list of refreshing sorbets that include green tea, black sesame, mango and taro are just a few of the simple but amazing desserts on the menu.

Winning the top spot of the World Pizza Championships in 2014, the Margherita Pizza at 400 Gradi features an extra thin crust, topped with homemade marinara sauce, silky fior di latte cheese and a handful of fresh basil leaves, which is cooked to perfection in a burning hot oven for 90 seconds

The entire menu at Lucy Liu is filled with mouth-watering dishes but the Korean pork hock has to be the best, and the most dramatic. The pork is prepped for over 36 hours to ensure it's packed with the maximum amount of flavour. Served with a carving knife stabbed into it, the hock has golden crispy skin that stands in contrast to the tender, almost gelatinous meat. The hock is accompanied by a steamed pancake and sweet apple kimchi.

Another Instagram worthy dish, and this one's vegan too. Start your morning with a bowl of fresh coconut yoghurt, made daily by the head chef at Kettle Black. The dairy-free yoghurt is made from coconut cream, vegan culture and agave syrup, and served topped with healthy grains, seasonal fruit, nuts, seeds and lightly dusted with citrus powder.

Inspired by historical British recipes, the food served at Dinner by Heston is surprising and delicious, characteristic of Chef Heston Blumenthal. The stunning meat fruit is a starter featuring a chicken liver parfait disguised as a mandarin. Served with spiced wine and grilled bread, this meal dates back to the 1500s. Due to its overwhelming popularity and proximity to several hotel apartments in Melbourne CBD such as the contemporary Oaks On William for instance, reserving a table in advance is advised.

Dexter's is a meat eatery that caters to every carnivores dream eats. The menu here borders on the traditional with items like bone marrow mash and pig head croquette. However, it's their hot meat doughnut that's in demand. The doughnuts are stuffed with burnt brisket ends before being rolled in a mixture of sugar and paprika and then finally deep fried till golden. Served with a spicy capsicum dip, the hot meat doughnuts are a must try.

Combining two Aussie icons - the jaffle sandwich and lamington cake, this dessert is probably one of the most authentic Australian desserts you'll eat in Melbourne. The chocolate soaked cake is filled with jam and rolled in coconut before being pressed into a hot waffle iron. The result is a mouth-watering cake jaffle served with a dollop of thick cream.

In Thailand, these noodles are sold from boats anchored alongside the canals, but in Melbourne, Jinda Thai's boat noodles serve up all the delicious flavours of this traditional dish in the comfort of their restaurant. A bowl filled with tangled noodles covered in dark, rich broth with strips of tender beef and crackling. Herbs and spices enhance the flavours and add some freshness.